Device for use in playing golf



V. S. FLOOD.

DEVICE FOR USE IN PLAYING GOLF.

APPLICATION FILED MAR! 23, 1920.

1,418,637., P tentedJune 6, 1922.

Phi/5 after/nu 8 Zz (62% DEVICE FOR USE IN PLAYING GOLF.

Specipcation of Letters Patent. Patented June 5, 1922.

Application flled March 23', 1920. Serial No. 368,092.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, VALENTINE S ILOOD, acitizen of the United States, residing at New Britain, county ofHartford, and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Devices for Use in Playing Golf, fully describedand=represented in the following speclfication and the accompanyingdrawlngs, forming a part of the same.

This invention relates to devlces for use in la in olf. V

I n a golf stroke, in order to obtain the best results as regardsdirection and distance, the driving power should be applied in astraight line 1n the direction of the desired line of flight; that 1s, al1ne straight forward through the ball. Man players have a tendencytopermit a su deli backward break or flexing of the left wrist (assuming aright-handed player) at or about the moment of impact between the cluband the ball. When such a wrlst action occurs, the line of the drivingpower is not straight forward but is a curve in a direction around theleft leg. As a result the stroke is sliced and gives a short ball.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide. meansfor restrictlng the wrist movement thereby to prevent any suddenbackward flexing of the wrist joint.

With this general object in view the 1nvention consists in thecombinations, arrangement of parts and details of construction whichwill first be described in connection with the accompanying drawing andthen more particularly pointed out.

In the drawing: 7

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device constructed in accordancewith the invention, in position for use.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the device removed; and

Figure 8 is a similar View, with parts broken away and'removed, of amodification.

Referring to the drawing, there is provided means for restricting themovement of the players wrist thereby to prevent a sudden, substantiallybackward flexing of provided a brace 11 of suflicient length to extendwell beyond the Wrist joint on either side. This brace is formed of aflat band of steel so as to be stiff and slightly resilient, and it .isslightly curved, as shown,-to conform roughly with the configuration ofthe hand and arm. As will be seen from the drawing, the hand engagingportion of the brace lies all on one side of its hand engaging surface.That is to say, no part thereof extends around toward the front of thehand and the wrist is free to flex edge- VVlSe.

11 in position for use. Although capable of various constructions, inthe embodiment illustrated, riveted to the brace 11 are two straps 12having buckles 13. With such securing means the brace is readilystrapped to the players arm or wrist in some such manner as shown inFig. 1.

In the use of the device described, as the player makes his stroke,there is sufficient inherent resiliency in the brace to permit anyslight natural play of the wrist. But any sudden backward flexing of thewrist joint is prevented by the brace 11 against which the back of thehand abuts. On the upswing, the wrist can flex edgewise because thebrace is of a form to freely permit such wrist movement. With the devicedescribed, therefore, the driving power is held in the properdirectional line at the moment of impact and is maintained after theball is hit instead of up to the ball only. As a result sliced strokesand shortened strokes are prevented.

, It is to be understood that the same device is a plicable toeitherright handed or left han ed players. It has been described in connectionwith a right handed player. For a left handed player, the brace issecured to the rightarm instead of the left.

Figure 3 illustrates a modification in which contact of metal with thearm is prevented. In the particular form shown as an example, rivetedtogether, as at 14, are a leather pad 15 and a steel plate 16. Thiscombined device is secured to the players arm by straps 17 in the mannerdescribed in connection with the first form. The leather pad 15 isformed to be fairly stifl and somewhat resilient and it is reinforcedand held to its duty by the steel plate 16. In other respects thecombined device shown in Figure '3 is like the first form described.

That is to say, it extends across the back of the wrist, permits normalplay of the wrist, permits edgewise flexing of the wrist at the end ofthe stroke, but prevents any sudden backward flexing of the wrist in themanner already described.

What is claimed is:

l. A device for use in playing 01f, comprising a brace for preventingsucfilen backward breaking of the wrist joint, means for securing saidbrace in a position for use with a portion extending back of the wristalong the players arm and a portion extend ing forward of the wrist alonthe back of the players hand, sald secon named porewes? tion of thebrace all lying on one. side of the hand engaging surface of the brace,

whereby sidewise flexing of the wrist is permitted.

2. A device for use in playing golf, comprising a stiff and slightlyresilient brace to extend across the back of the players wrist toprevent a sudden backward flexing of the wrist joint, and means forsecuring said brace to the players arm 01' Wrist in position for use.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

VALENTINE SWIFT FLOQlD.

